Analysis Of The Devil In The White City
opinionated Essay
1074 words
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson contains extremely detailed information of the happenings during the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 between two men whom had never met. This #1 National Bestseller includes the years of building before and during the Fair and the challenges that came with the famous architect, Daniel H. Burnham. The pages also contain disturbing information about the urban serial killer, Dr. H. H. Holmes, who brutally murdered at least nine individuals throughout the years while construction went on before and during the Chicago World’s Fair. Those who are interested in murder trials and history of the United States would enjoy this book.
Erik Larson’s novel is to be considered “new” because he offers the public two completely different stories of events that each occurred during the years 1891-1894 in the White City; Chicago, Illinois.
The Devil in the White City is a four part book that takes place between 1890 and 1893 with a small part of the book, part IV, in the era of 1895. The nonfiction novel includes two different biographies about two different men; Daniel H. Burnham and Dr. H. H. Holmes.
Burnham is a well-known architect around the world who previously completed work in “Chicago, New York, Washington, San Francisco, Manila, and many other cities” (Pg. 3). He was offered the job to design and build the buildings that would be a part of the World’s Columbian Exposition (Chicago World’s Fair), after Chicago won the bid for the fair in 1890, and eventually took the offer with his assistant, John Root. The construction of the fair began in 1891 and did not completely finish until the fair was already halfway over in the summer of 1893. During those two and a half years, the success and reputatio...
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...t the book was at times, the stories skipped around so you were thrown into Burnham’s situation, and then right back in Holmes’ situation in the same chapter, so that made the book a bit hard to follow. Also, since there were so many names of people involved in both stories, it was difficult to remember who each of them were and what they did to be a part of the story.
Erik Larson was motivated to tell these two incredible stories because he became so interested and astonished in the Chicago World’s Fair the more he read about it. Larson could not believe that the city of Chicago would “take on the impossible” and that “George Ferris would attempt to build something so big and novel-and that he would succeed on his first try” (Pg. 393). He has always loved the city of Chicago and wanted to know more about the history, so this was also a motive to write the novel.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that burnham was offered the job to design and build the buildings that would be a part of the world's columbian exposition (chicago world’s fair), after chicago won the bid for the fair in 1890.
- Explains that dr. holmes came to chicago to become a pharmacist or doctor and was drawn to work in the city of englewood. after the shop's owner passed away, holmes bought the store and allowed the widow to continue living on the second floor apartments.
- Opines that erik larson wrote the devil in the white city to show that there can be two sides to people and that individuals are not always who they seem to be.
- Analyzes how erik larson's the devil in the white city contains detailed information of the happenings during the chicago world’s fair in 1893 between two men whom had never met.
- Explains that larson relied on various public libraries, but no internet sources or hired researchers, to acquire his information to write this novel.
- Opines that larson included the two men and their stories simultaneously, which made the reader see that it was not all happy times during the years of the fair.
Related
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- The Devil In The White City; Murder, Magic, and Madness At The Fair That Changed Americaanalytical essayLarson includes examples of Burnham’s high opinions of grandeur and elegance, as well as his understanding of their greater effect on the general public to highlight why he was the right choice for lead architect. For example, Larson includes a scene aboard the R.M.S. Olympic, one of the largest ships of its time. Larson notes that Burnham “loved the opulence of the ship, just as he loved the Pullman Palace cars and giant fireplaces” (3). Larson makes use of this particular example of Burnham’s opinions to allow the reader to develop a base-line understanding of what goes through Burnham’s head when he designs the fair. Here, without even mentioning the fair, Larson seeks to bring forward the qualities of Burnham, which, in hindsight, made him the right man for the job. Due to this passion for grandeur, Burnham became a perfect fit for the job because he was supposed to design an entire city off of the drawings and sketches of many diverse architects with very little collaboration between them. He took his passions and applied them to the grand plans of the exposition, seeing the final product in his mind’s eye and molding the city until it a...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how larson portrays burnham's obsession with grandeur as a key part of his persona in his book, the devil in the white city.
- Analyzes how larson uses burnham's views of grandeur and elegance to highlight why he was the right choice for lead architect.
- Analyzes how larson emphasizes that burnham's obsession with grandeur and elegance is a reason why he was the right man for the job.
- Analyzes how larson ties burnham's obsession with the popular demand for the outcome of the fair to the people of chicago.
- Analyzes how larson's account of burnham pre-exposition shows that he was ready to take on a large project.
- Analyzes how larson portrays burnham's obsession with grandeur and elegance in a negative light.
- Analyzes how larson places emphasis on burnham's role in the fair by including examples of his obsession with grandeur and elegance.
- Explains larson, erik, the devil in the white city; murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america.
1327 wordsRead More - Essay On The Devil In The White Cityanalytical essayThe book, The Devil in the White City, takes place during the late nineteenth century. During that time, the total picture of the late nineteenth - century America that emerges from The Devil in the White City is very different than now.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the book, the devil in the white city, takes place during the late nineteenth-century america.
- Analyzes how each individual was naive, transportation was slow, and the streets were mostly busy. people were creative and inventing new things.
- Explains that the nineteenth-century and contemporary america are like and unlike in many ways.
- Explains the differences in technology, transportation, and the way people speak. back then, people wore dresses and suits, but now they wear pants and t-shirts.
- Analyzes how the nineteenth-century mirrors the present because we have the same determination to move forward and make a lot of money.
- Opines that the late nineteenth century is different from how they imagined until they read the book. the 19th century mirrors the present.
523 wordsRead More - Devil In The White Cityanalytical essayErik Larson’s book Devil in the White City is full of magic and madness that has shaped the society of the late 19th century that is specific to in Chicago. The issues that have been handled through this time frame that are addressed in this book is that how Chicago was known to be the black city at first, and how the city hoped that hosting the World’s fair would increase their reputation. Secondly, the magic of a man named Daniel Burnham that did put the plans of the world fair in Chicago into life and the obstacles that he had overcame. Next, once the world fair was complete, it has made Chicago “The White city,” by its dazzling designs and attractions that made it memorable. Then, the madness of H.H. Holmes and how his evil deeds has seemed to undermine the world fair and the things that are going on within it with his murders and treachery that does grip Chicago once his evil deeds have been found out. Finally, the events that happened in the world fair that relate to the issues that occur in the late ninetieth century within the United States. The city of Chicago was in a desolate condition before it hosted the World Fair.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how erik larson's book devil in the white city is full of magic and madness that has shaped the society of the late 19th century that is specific to chicago.
- Explains that chicago was nicknamed "the black city" before hosting the 1893 world fair that brought the city into life.
- Explains that daniel burnham and james root were the first to design the towering building that would make cities build upwards, the skyscraper. the financial panic that was potentially coming to america has put both of the lead planners in trouble.
- Explains that daniel burnham's confidence was lacking in trying to persuade the eastern architects.
- Explains that the dazzling exhibits, attractions, and products that were invented at the fair were a testament to daniel burnham and his exposition's hard work.
- Analyzes how holmes proved his madness in his design of competing buildings in the fair in chicago and also had a litany of evil deeds.
- Describes the issues that took effect at the world's fair in chicago during the late ninetieth century.
- Analyzes how the devil in the white city captured the magic of chicago and the darkening madness of h.h. holmes.
2299 wordsRead More - The Changes Brought from Chicago's World Fair in The Devil in the White City,” by Erik Larsonanalytical essayIn the book, “The Devil in the White City,” Erik Larson tells the story of two formidable men and their activities during Chicago’s World Fair of 1893. Daniel Burnham is an architect and the fair’s brilliant director. The book takes the reader through the tremendous obstacles and tragedies that Burnham faces in an attempt to create a fair that will give America its fame. However, H.H Holmes is a young doctor, who uses the attraction of the great fair and his charms to lure dozens of young women to their inevitable and tragic deaths. Not only did Chicago’s World Fair of 1893 showcase Daniel Burnham’s success as an able director and H.H. Holmes cunning nature, it changed America as a whole, introduced some lasting inventions, and influenced many historical figures of both that time and our current time period.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how erik larson tells the story of two formidable men and their activities during chicago's world fair of 1893. daniel burnham is an architect and the fair’s brilliant director, while h.h. holmes is a young doctor.
- Explains that the chicago world's fair of 1893 changed america in enormous ways. the fair propelled america into its global influence and changed the light in which the world viewed the united states.
- Explains that the chicago world's fair introduced america to classic favorites like juicy fruit, cracker jack, shredded wheat, and aunt jemima’s.
- Opines that the fair gave people new ideas of architectural beauty and nobility, possibilities of social beauty, utility, and harmony of which they had not even dreamed.
567 wordsRead More - Richardanalytical essayRichard Wright’s “Black Boy” depicts the different observations of the South and the North. In the South, Wright faces pre-depression and racism. In the North, Wright faces the conflicts from the Communist party. At the end of Black Boy, Wright quotes “What had I got out of living in the city? What had I got out of living in the South?”(Wright 452)
In this essay, the author
- Describes richard wright's black boy: a recollection of childhood and youth, harper perennial publishers, new york, 1945.
- Analyzes how richard wright's "black boy" depicts the different observations of the south and the north.
- Analyzes how wright's early experiences in the north were different from what had happened to him in south.
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1287 wordsRead More - Sociological Aspects of "The Devil in the White City"analytical essay“The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson was a mix between two stories that overall worked well together. The stories worked together to convey the true overall meaning of the theme good versus evil. Good and evil are seen everywhere throughout the novel, even in the most obvious of places such as the title. Good and evil, dark and light, they all stand for the same thing. White is normally found to be pure and good. By the author naming the book, The Devil in the White City, he is trying to tell the reader that the novel is about how even in truly pure places evil will follow. Although, good and evil is the main theme of this novel, I found that if you look deeply into the way he tells the story, he is also trying to tell his reader about other themes. These other themes that you can find all throughout the book are things such as pride and determination. These other themes were very prominent and played very well into the plot and the theme of the story.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how larson's "the devil in the white city" was a mix between two stories that conveyed the true overall meaning of the theme good versus evil.
- Analyzes how burnham's life was based on the construction of the world columbian exposition, which was held in chicago in 1893.
- Compares holmes' story with burnham's. he represents the evil part of the story by foreshadowing the bad half of chicago.
- Analyzes how chicago's pride was seen throughout the story to further show the way the people of chicago felt about their city.
- Analyzes how daniel burnham, through the pride of his city, kept going so he wouldn't fail chicago. he took advantage of the city's pride to give the final push for himself mentally and his workers to finish the fair.
- Analyzes how larson uses his contrast between holmes and burnham to show how holmes' commitment and determination was just as strong.
- Analyzes how larson portrays holmes' determination vividly in the novel. he was questioned for insurance fraud and later for murders of two children.
- Analyzes how erik larson used suspenseful building strategies to hold the reader’s attention. the parallel story might cause confusion to some readers because of time lapses.
- Analyzes how the novel's relation to sociology is through various situations, such as crime and deviance, gender inequality, education, and work and industry.
- Explains larson, erik, the devil in the white city: murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed america.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the fair became a microcosm of the country that was building it. burnham was progressive in his approach to his labor force.
- Analyzes how mark twain coined the term "gilded age" to describe a time when the rich lived in the lap of luxary, and the poor starved to death.
- Analyzes how chicago's fair was a political affair. the wooded isle was free of construction, except for the japanese exhibit, which blended nicely with the theme.
- Opines that the fair's greatest impact on the us was the cultural innovations that were introduced, such as the eight hour work day and overtime pay.
- Explains that the fair was a cultural awakening for the people of the united states, since it had exhibits from all over the world.
- Opines that the chicago world's fair of 1893 was the turning point between old victorian, provential, and backwater ways in the us and the modern outlook and culture we enjoy today.
- Analyzes how the chicago world's fair of 1893 represented the contrasts and conflicts of the gilded age.
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